School Counseling (M.Ed.)
Degree Requirements
The program described below is designed to provide for the acquisition of skills and competencies needed by counselors working in educational settings.
A grade of "B" or better is required in all coursework toward the degree.
Counselor educators are ethically required to ensure that students meet academic requirements and demonstrate clinical competencies. Satisfactory progress will be predicated on a combination of factors such as academic success, clinical competence, adherence to ethical standards, and appropriate interpersonal functioning. Students who do not demonstrate satisfactory competence within any of these critical areas of professional performance may be terminated from the program. Core faculty will evaluate students on a continuing basis to determine students' satisfactory progression through the program. Other policies, procedures, and guidelines are addressed in the Counselor Education Graduate Student Handbook.
Students who are not enrolled for three consecutive semesters must complete all admissions requirements again and be reviewed by the program admissions committee.
Comprehensive Examination: Counselor Education Comprehensive Examination (CECE).
The Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) now offers an expanded certification option for CACREP- accredited programs. Requirements under this option include "completion of a school counseling program that is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a passing score on the Praxis II test #0421, Professional School Counseling, and attainment of passing scores on the National Counseling Examination for Licensure and Certification. Note that certification in a teaching field or another area of instructional support is not required for admission to a CACREP-accredited program in school counseling".
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Instructional Support Area | ||
| CED 560 | Diagnosis/Treatment Planning | 3 |
| CED 565 | Found of Prof School Couns | 3 |
| CED 566 | Multicultural Counseling | 3 |
| CED 569 | Child Counseling | 3 |
| CED 572 | Princ and Theories of Couns | 3 |
| CED 574 | Group Couns Theory and Process | 3 |
| CED 576 | Supv Practicum in Couns | 3 |
| CED 582 | Data-Driven School Counseling | 3 |
| CED 584 | Sem Ethical and Legal Issues | 3 |
| CED 586 | Counseling Skills and Process | 3 |
| CED 588 | Career Devel, Assess, & Interv | 3 |
| CED 591 | Advocacy, Collab. & Consult. | 3 |
| CED 595 | Internship - School Counseling (6 semester hours required; 600 contact hours) | 6 |
| School Counselors are required to successfully complete the PRAXIS II Subject Test prior to enrolling in internship | ||
| Related Studies in Educational Foundations 1 | ||
| EPY 521 | Human Dev and Behavior | 3 |
| EPY 555 | Tests-Measurement and Eval | 3 |
| Research in Education Area | ||
| IDE 510 | Educ Research and Evaluation | 3 |
| Electives (A preapproved three course sequenced elective cognate is required) | 9 | |
| School Counselors are required under the CACREP Certification Option to successfully complete the National Counselor Exam prior to applying for certification | ||
| Total Hours | 60 | |
- 1
Under the SDE option, SPE 500 Must be taken for 3 additional hours by students who have not previously satisfied the special education requirement.